Clear antiperspirant stick containing dibenzylidene alditol

ABSTRACT

A clear gel cosmetic stick is disclosed which includes a liquid vehicle, an antiperspirant salt dissolved in the liquid vehicle, a dibenzylidene alditol, and a co-gellant. The co-gellant is preferably a hydroxyalkyl cellulose and the stick optionally also includes a chelating agent. The cosmetic stick comprises in percent by weight about 70% to about 95%, preferably 75 to 92%, of a liquid vehicle, about 1% to about 22%, preferably 3% to 15%, of an antiperspirant salt dissolved in the vehicle, about 0.5% to about 2% of a dibenzylidene alditol, about 0.1% to about 0.5%, preferably 0.2% to 0.4%, of a hydroxyalkyl cellulose, and optionally about 0.05% to about 3%, preferably 0.1% to 2%, of a chelating agent. Preferably the liquid vehicle comprises a polyhydric alcohol having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups and is substantially free of monohydric alcohol and strong alkali such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide. Preferably the cosmetic stick will have a turbidity of less than about 120 NTU, more preferably less than 100 NTU, and a hardness of about 60 to 150.

This application is a 371 of application PCT/US96/02836, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/588,618 filed on Feb. 6,1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,846, and a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 08/397,450 filed on Mar. 2, 1995, now abandoned,which application was re-filed as application Ser. No. 08/695,839 onJul. 10, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,171.

The invention relates to clear gel cosmetic sticks which include asolubilized antiperspirant salt.

Gel antiperspirant sticks typically include a liquid vehicle, anantiperspirant salt, a gelling agent, and one or more emollients.Dibenzylidene alditols like dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS), also known asdibenzylidene monosorbitol acetal (DBMSA), are one type of gelling agentthat has been used in such sticks. Dibenzylidene alditols may degradeduring manufacture and subsequent storage of the gel stick, in partbecause of the presence of the acidic antiperspirant salt in the stick.One product of the degradation, benzaldehyde, can provide an undesirableodor and can cause the stick to lose hardness and to become discolored.Commercially available DBS gel antiperspirant sticks generally containmore than 2% DBS in order to have sufficient hardness. However, suchsticks do not have optimum clarity or odor characteristics.

Various stabilizing agents have been incorporated into gelantiperspirant sticks containing dibenzylidene alditols in an effort tominimize dibenzylidene alditol degradation. Examples include sodiumhydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, zinc acetate, zincoxide, zinc carbonate, potassium carbonate, diethanolamine,triethanolamine, disodium succinate, sodium benzoate, sodium octanoate,hexamethylenetetramine, urea, 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, magnesiumsulfate, calcium hydroxide, and N-(2-hydroxyethyl) acetamide. These andother stabilizing agents, although apparently effective to some degreein stabilizing the dibenzylidene alditol, may have other problemsassociated with them. Sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide, forexample, may provide a composition with an undesirable odor.

The invention features a clear gel cosmetic stick which includes aliquid vehicle, an antiperspirant salt dissolved in the liquid vehicle,and a dibenzylidene alditol, and is further characterized in that saidstick includes a hydroxyalkyl cellulose or a chelating agent or both ahydroxyalkyl cellulose and a chelating agent. The cosmetic stickcomprises in percent by weight about 70% to about 95%, preferably 75% to92%, of a liquid vehicle, about 1% to about 22%, preferably 3% to 15%,of an antiperspirant salt dissolved in said vehicle, about 0.5% to about3%, preferably 0.5% to 1.5%, of a dibenzylidene alditol, about 0.1% toabout 0.5%, preferably 0.2% to 0.4%, of a hydroxyalkyl cellulose, andabout 0.05% to about 3%, preferably 0.1% to 2%, of a chelating agent.Preferably the liquid vehicle comprises a polyhydric alcohol having from3 to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups and is substantiallyfree of monohydric alcohol and strong alkali such as sodium hydroxideand potassium hydroxide. Preferably the cosmetic stick will have a pHgreater than 4.4, more preferably greater than 4.7, a turbidity of lessthan about 120 NTU, more preferably less than 100 NTU, and a hardness ofabout 60 to 150. By lowering the dibenzylidene alditol level to 1.5% orlower, the clarity and odor characteristics of the stick are greatlyimproved. The hardness of the stick is maintained by the addition of thehydroxyalkyl cellulose. The color of the stick is improved by theaddition of the chelating agent.

A "clearing" gel stick, as used herein, is a stick that is visuallyclear so that, like glass, it allows ready viewing of objects behind it.Preferred clear gel sticks have a turbidity measurement, expressed inNephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) of less than 120 NTU, morepreferably less than 100 NTU, and most preferably less than 80 NTU, whenmeasured with a Hellige #965 Direct-Reading Turbidimeter. By"substantially free of off-odor" is meant that the gel stick (withoutany fragrance or fragrance masking agent) has an off-odor rating of 0 to2, preferably 0 to 1, on a scale of 0 to 5 used by trained odor (orperfumery) experts, where 0 signifies no detectable off-odor and arating of 4 to 5 is deemed unacceptable odor. By "stable" is meant thatsamples of the product, when stored at 45° C. for three months, will notexhibit any noticeable benzaldehyde odor or other off-odor (i.e. retainsan odor rating of 0 to 2) and will not exhibit any significant change inclarity (i.e. retains a clarity of better than 120 NTU). Yellowness ismeasured by spectrophotometer absorbance at 408 nm with 0 correspondingto 0 ppm ferric chloride in water and 5 corresponding to 500 ppm ferricchloride in water.

The preferred clear gel sticks include a liquid vehicle, anantiperspirant salt dissolved in the liquid vehicle and a dibenzylidenealditol gelling agent. The liquid vehicle along with the gelling agentprovide the matrix, or body, of the gel stick.

The preferred liquid vehicle comprises a polyhydric alcohol having from3 to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups. Such polyhydricalcohols include diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, dipropyleneglycol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene glycol,2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 1,4-butylene glycol, 1,2-butylene glycol,1,3-butylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, 2,4-dihydroxy-2-methylpentane,glycerin, sorbitol and the like, and mixtures thereof. Preferred are1,2-propylene glycol (normally referred to simply as propylene glycol),dipropylene glycol, 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol, 1,3-butylene glycol,sorbitol and mixtures thereof. Most preferred as the liquid vehicle ispropylene glycol, which may optionally include one or more of theaforementioned polyhydric alcohols. While the liquid vehicle mayoptionally include a monohydric alcohol such as ethanol, it is preferredthat the liquid vehicle be substantially free of monohydric alcohol.While the liquid vehicle may also optionally contain a co-solvent forthe gelling agent (e.g. N-methyl pyrrolidone), as described in the priorart, such is not preferred.

The gel stick generally includes between about 70% and about 95%,preferably between about 75% and about 92%, of the liquid vehicle byweight. A stick including an insufficient quantity of the liquid vehiclemay be unclear or may provide an inadequate support matrix for theremainder of the components. A stick including too much liquid vehiclemay lack sufficient quantities of one or more of the other stickcomponents.

The dibenzylidene alditol is the gelling agent. Examples includedibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS), dibenzylidene xylitol, and dibenzylideneribitol. The aromatic rings in each benzylidene group may beunsubstituted or substituted, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,174,which is incorporated herein by reference. When substituted, it ispreferred that the benzyl ring contain an electron withdrawing group atthe meta position. Typical substituted compounds includedi(meta-fluorobenzylidene) sorbitol and di(metachlorobenzylidene)sorbitol. The preferred gelling agent is dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS).

The gel stick may contain between about 0.1% and about 5%, preferablybetween about 0.5% and about 3%, of the dibenzylidene alditol by weight.If the gel stick includes too much of the dibenzylidene alditol, it maylack sufficient clarity and/or may have an undesirable odor. If the gelstick includes too little of the dibenzylidene alditol it may lacksufficient hardness. For optimum clarity the gel stick should preferablycontain 0.5% to 2%, more preferably 0.5% to 1.5%, most preferably 0.7%to 1.3%, of the dibenzylidene alditol by weight. A particularlyadvantageous feature of the present invention is the use of low levels(i.e. 1.5% or less) of the dibenzylidene alditol gelling agent, whichresults in sticks of exceptional clarity and odor-free characteristics.

Antiperspirant salts which may be used in the gel sticks of the presentinvention include any of the conventional aluminum, zirconium andaluminum-zirconium salts known to be useful in antiperspirantcompositions. These salts include aluminum halides and aluminum hydroxyhalides (e.g., aluminum chlorohydrate), and mixtures or complexesthereof with zirconyl oxyhalides and zirconyl hydroxyhalides (e.g.aluminum-zirconium chlorohydrate).

Preferred aluminum salts are those having the general formula Al₂(OH)_(6-a) X_(a) wherein X is Cl, Br, I or NO₃, and a is about 0.3 toabout 4, preferably about 1 to 2, such that the Al to X mole ratio isabout 1:1 to 2.1:1. These salts generally have some water of hydrationassociated with them, typically on the order of 1 to 6 moles per mole ofsalt. Most preferably, the aluminum salt is aluminum chlorohydrate (i.e.X is Cl) and a is about 1, such that the aluminum to chlorine mole ratiois about 1.9:1 to 2.1:1.

Preferred aluminum-zirconium salts are mixtures or complexes of theabove-described aluminum salts with zirconium salts of the formulaZrO(OH)_(2-pb) Y_(b) wherein Y is Cl, Br, I, NO₃, or SO₄, b is about 0.8to 2, and p is the valence of Y. The zirconium salts also generally havesome water of hydration associated with them, typically on the order of1 to 7 moles per mole of salt. Preferably the zirconium salt is zirconylhydroxychloride of the formula ZrO(OH)_(2-b) Cl_(b) wherein b is about 1to 2, preferably about 1.2 to about 1.9. The preferredaluminum-zirconium salts have an Al:Zr ratio of about 1.7 to about 12.5,most preferably about 2 to about 10, and a metal:X+Y ratio of about 0.73to about 2.1, preferably about 0.9 to 1.5. A preferred salt isaluminum-zirconium chlorohydrate (i.e. X and Y are Cl), which has anAl:Zr ratio of about 2 to about 10 and a metal:Cl ratio of about 0.9 toabout 2.1. Thus, the term aluminum-zirconium chlorohydrate is intendedto include the tri-, tetra-, penta- and octa-chlorohydrate forms. Thealuminum-zirconium salt complexes may also contain a neutral amino acid,preferably glycine, typically with a Gly:Zr ratio of about 1:1 to 4:1.

It is especially preferred to utilize enhanced efficacy aluminum andaluminum-zirconium antiperspirant salts in the gel sticks of the presentinvention. By "enhanced efficacy antiperspirant salt" is meantantiperspirant salts which, when reconstituted as 10% aqueous solutions,produce an HPLC chromatogram (as described, for example, in U.S. Pat.No. 5,330,751, which is incorporated herein by reference) wherein atleast 70%, preferably at least 80%, of the aluminum is contained in twosuccessive peaks, conveniently labeled peaks 3 and 4, wherein the ratioof the area under peak 4 to the area under peak 3 is at least 0.5,preferably at least 0.7, and most preferably at least 0.9 or higher. Anysuitable HPLC technique may be employed provided that it is capable ofresolving the Al component into five peaks. The enhanced efficacy (oractivated) antiperspirant salts are well-known in the industry and arecommercially available from several suppliers.

To incorporate the antiperspirant salt in the gel stick composition, itis preferred that the salt is first solubilized or dissolved in aportion of the liquid vehicle. Accordingly, it is preferred to utilizepolyhydric alcohol solutions of antiperspirant salts. Especiallypreferred are solubilized salts which have been partially neutralized byaddition of a pH-raising agent to a pH of about 4.1 to 5.0, preferablyabout 4.3 to 4.8. Particularly preferred neutralized antiperspirantsalts are those which contain an additional alkaline glycinate, such assodium, potassium, or zinc glycinate. Such solubilized antiperspirantsalts are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,135, and in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,098, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein byreference. An example of such a solubilized salt, which is partiallyneutralized with zinc glycinate, is Westchlor A2Z 8106 (WestwoodChemical Corp.). The preparation of a preferred solubilizedantiperspirant salt is described in Example 1 below.

The additional alkaline glycinate which is preferably included in thesolubilized antiperspirant salt raises the pH of the antiperspirant saltand, as a result, reduces the degradation of the dibenzylidene alditolin the gel stick. It is generally preferred to add sufficient alkalineglycinate to the solubilized antiperspirant salt so as to raise the pHof an approximately 10% aqueous solution of the antiperspirant salt toabout 4.1 to 5.0, preferably about 4.3 to 4.8. (The 10% aqueous solutionmay be an approximately 50:50 polyhydric alcohol:water solution.)Preferred gel sticks which include such a partially neutralized saltwill have a pH greater than 4.4, preferably about 4.7 to about 5.5, andmore preferably about 4.8 to about 5.3. The pH of the finished stick canbe measured by dissolving one part stick in ninety-nine parts water. ThepH of the solubilized antiperspirant salt or of the resulting stick can,of course, be adjusted to the aforementioned preferred pH ranges withany pH-raising agent, or combination of pH-raising agents, provided thatthe agent or agents selected are soluble in the vehicle and do notadversely affect the clarity or odor characteristics of the stick to asignificant extent.

Sufficient antiperspirant salt should be dissolved in the liquid vehicleso that the final composition, after all components are added, includesbetween about 1% and about 22%, preferably between about 3% and about15%, of the antiperspirant salt by weight. It should be noted thatreference throughout this application to weight percent ofantiperspirant salt is intended to be calculated in accordance with thestandard industry method, which includes bound water and glycine. Thiscalculation compares with the new U.S.P. method, which excludes boundwater and glycine, as follows:

    ______________________________________    SALT         STANDARD METHOD                                USP METHOD    ______________________________________    Al--Zr--Gly in Prop.                 30%            22%    Glycol (Ex. 1)    Al--Zr--Gly in stick                 11%            8.6%    (Ex. 2)    ______________________________________

The gel stick will also optionally and preferably include a hydroxyalkylcellulose as an additional gelling agent (or co-gellant). Thehydroxyalkyl cellulose provides the stick with adequate hardness evenwhen the stick includes only a low level of the dibenzylidene alditol.The combined use of the hydroxyalkyl cellulose co-gellant with reducedamounts of the dibenzylidene alditol (i.e. amounts of 1.5% or less)enable the production of gel sticks of exceptional clarity andstability. The preferred hydroxyalkyl cellulose co-gellants includealkyl groups with between one and five carbon atoms. The preferredco-gellant is hydroxypropylcellulose (e.g. Klucel HFF, Aqualon). Whenincluded in the gel stick, the hydroxyalkyl cellulose will be present inan amount of about 0.08% to 1%, preferably 0.1% to 0.5%, more preferably0.2% to 0.4%, by weight.

Preferred gel sticks have a hardness of between about 60 and about 150when measured on a TA-XT2 Texture Analyzer (Stable Micro System, HasteHill, England). These hardness measurements correlate to the grams offorce required for the standard arrowhead-type penetration needle topenetrate the stick a distance of 5 mm at 1 mm per second.

The gel stick of the present invention will also optionally andpreferably include a chelating agent to improve its color and clarity. Achelating agent is a compound in which atoms form more than onecoordinate bond with metals in solution. Examples of chelating agentsinclude salts of ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA) such astetrasodium and trisodium ethylonediaminetetraacetate (Na₄ EDTA and Na₃EDTA), hydroxyethylethylenediaminetriacetate (HEDTA),diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA), nitrilotriacetate (NTA),othanoldiglycine disodium salt (EDG), diethanolglycine sodium salt(DEG), and 1,3-propylenediaminetetraacetic acid (PDTA). All of these areknown and commercially available. Preferred chelating agents includetetrasodium and trisodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (Na₄ EDTA and Na₃EDTA). The gel sticks generally include between about 0.05% and about3%, preferably between about 0.1% and about 2%, of the chelating agentby weight. If too little chelating agent is included, the stick may haveless clarity, an undesirable odor, and/or undesirable yellowness. If toomuch chelating agent is included, the clarity and/or other properties ofthe stick may be adversely affected. The chelating agent may reduce thecolor (in particular the yellow color) of the stick that can result, forexample, from the presence of residual iron (or other metalcontaminants) that may be present in the stick from a variety ofsources. The gel stick preferably measures 0-1 on the yellowness scale.

The chelating agent may also act as a gelling agent stabilizer byincreasing the pH of the stick, thus reducing or eliminating the needfor other alkaline gelling agent stabilizers such as NaOH and KOH. Thegel stick preferably is substantially free of NaOH and KOH and, as aresult, does not have the odor that can result from the interaction ofthese materials with the vehicle, particularly with propylene glycol.The elimination of other alkaline gelling agent stabilizers,particularly NaOH and KOH, is an advantageous feature of the presentinvention and is believed to substantially contribute to the odor-freecharacteristics of the gel sticks of the present invention.

Suitable emollients may be incorporated into the gel stick to provide itwith desirable application properties (smoothness, reduced tack, etc.).Examples of emollients include fatty acid esters such as isopropylmyristate and isopropyl palmitate; diesters of adipic, phthalic, andsebacic acids such as di-n-butyl phthalate, diisopropyl sebacate,diethyl sebacate, and diisopropyl adipate; propylene glycol diesters ofshort chain fatty acids; nonvolatile silicone oils such as dimethylsiloxane and dimethicone copolyol; volatile silicones such as DowCorning 344 and Dow Corning 345 (available from Dow Corning), Silicone7207 and Silicare 7158 (available from Union Carbide), and SF 1202(available from General Electric); C₁₂ -C₁₅ alcohol benzoates such asFinsolv (available from Finetex, Inc.); fatty alcohols such acetylalcohol and stearyl alcohol; alkyl ether derivatives of polyethyleneglycols, polypropylene glycols and polypropylene polyethylene glycolcopolymers such as PPG-5-Buteth-7, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, PPG-3-Isosteareth-9and Glycereth-7-Diisononanoate. Many other examples of emollients areknown in the art. The gel stick should include a sufficient quantity ofemollient to provide the stick with the desired application propertieswithout interfering with the clarity of the product. The preferredemollients should be soluble in the liquid vehicle and form a clearsolution therein. The gel stick preferably includes less than about 10%,more preferably less than about 3%, and most preferably between about0.25% and 1.25%, of emollients by weight.

The fragrances used in the gel stick can be any conventional fragrancethat provides the stick with a desired scent. The quantity of fragranceincluded should be the quantity needed to provide the desired scent. Thegel stick generally includes less than about 2.5%, preferably less thanabout 1.5%, of the fragrance by weight.

The gel stick may contain other optional conventional ingredients suchas humectants, hardeners, fillers, colorants, preservatives,bacteriocides, UV absorbers, and the like. Obviously such materialsshould be selected so as not to adversely affect the clarity of thestick.

The gel sticks of the present invention may be prepared by theconventional two-phase procedure known in the art. That is, a firstphase containing a portion of the vehicle and the gelling agent isheated to a temperature sufficient to dissolve the gelling agent(typically about 110° C.), then cooled to about 100° C. A second phasecontaining a portion of the vehicle and the remaining ingredients isprepared and heated to about 60 to 80° C., then combined with the firstphase. The combined mixture is poured into stick form molds and cooledto solidify. A preferred alternative method of preparation is to combineall of the ingredients at a temperature of less than 50° C. withsufficient mixing to form a uniform dispersion (the dibenzylidenealditol is not soluble at low temperature; the hydroxyalkyl cellulose,if present, may be predissolved in a portion of the vehicle prior toblending). Portions of this dispersion are then flash heated to atemperature sufficient to dissolve the dibenzylidene alditol, then theresulting solution is poured into stick form molds and cooled tosolidify. Ideally, no portion of the solution will be kept at atemperature in excess of 90° C. for more than a few minutes. Thispreferred process is described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,135,the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The following specific examples further illustrate the invention:

EXAMPLE 1--ANTIPERSPIRANT SALT

A 50% sodium glycinate solution was prepared by mixing 171 lbs. (77.6kg) 50% NaOH with 67.8 lbs. (30.8 kg) water, then adding 160.3 lbs (72.8kg) of glycine (1:1 mole ratio of glycine to NaOH), the temperaturerising from 25° to 30° C., then from 30° to 35° C., after the first andsecond additions respectively. To 103.3 lbs. (46.9 kg) of propyleneglycol was added 7.8 lbs. (3.5 kg) of 50% sodium glycinate and thesolution mixed for ten minutes. To this solution was added 33.9 lbs.(15.4 kg) of zirconium hydroxychloride glycinate (50% aqueous ZHC-glysolution with a Zr:gly ratio of about 1:1). After mixing this solutionfor about ten minutes, 255 lbs. (115.8 kg) of 10% ACH' solution(prepared by heating 10% ACH at about 80° C. for about 16 to 17 hours)was added and mixed for about ten minutes. This solution was preheatedto about 70° to 75° C. and fed continuously to a type JHE flashevaporator (APV Crepaco Inc., Tonawanda, N.Y.; evaporator modified bymounting to the top of the flash chamber a 3 foot rectification towerfilled with about 2.5 feet of 0.5 inch ceramic Berl saddles) maintainedat about 60 mm Hg (absolute pressure) from which was withdrawn at about1 gal/hr a clear solution comprising 65% propylene glycol, 30% enhancedefficacy aluminum-zirconium tetrachlorohydrate-glycine (more than 80% ofaluminum in peaks 3 and 4 with peak 4 to peak 3 area ratio greater than1 and Gly:Zr ratio about 1.6:1), and 5% water. The pH of a sample ofthis solution diluted with an equal portion of distilled water was about4.7. This antiperspirant salt solution is incorporated into thefollowing examples.

EXAMPLES 2 AND 3

    ______________________________________                          Ex. 2   Ex. 3    Ingredient            Wt. %   Wt. %    ______________________________________    Propylene glycol      85.50   84.70    Al/Zr tetrachlorohydrate-gly                          11.00*  11.00*    Dibenzylidene sorbitol                          1.00    1.30    Hydroxypropyl cellulose                          0.30    0.30    Na.sub.4 EDTA         0.20    0.20    Diisopropyl sebacate  --      1.00    Glycereth-7-diisononanoate                          0.50    --    Dimethicone copolyol (ABIL B 8851)                          0.25    0.25    Fragrance             1.25    1.25    ______________________________________     *Weight % of salt in final composition. Salt is added in solubilized form     as prepared in Example 1.

Examples 2 and 3 were prepared according to the following procedure.

Phase A:

About 65% of the total propylene glycol mass (excluding that which ispart of the antiperspirant salt solution) is added to an appropriatelysized vessel. Hydroxypropyl cellulose is added and stirred well todissolve. After heating this solution to 110°-115° C., the dibenzylidinesorbitol is added with stirring until completely dissolved. This Phase Asolution is then cooled to about 100° C.

Phase B:

About 35% of the total propylene glycol mass (excluding that which ispart of the antiperspirant salt solution) is added to an appropriatelysized vessel, stirred and heated to about 60-70° C. The Na₄ EDTA isadded and mixed well. The Al/Zr tetrachlorohydrate-gly solution (asprepared in Example 1) is added and the solution mixed well until itbecomes clear and homogeneous. The emollients (i.e. diisopropyl sebacateor glycereth-7-diisononanoate and the dimethicone copolyol) are thenadded and the Phase B solution is mixed well until clear.

Combined Phase:

Phase B is added to Phase A with mixing and cooled to about 80° C. Thefragrance is added and allowed to mix well. The product is poured intosuitable stick containers and cooled to solidify.

EXAMPLES 4 AND 5

    ______________________________________                          Ex. 4   Ex. 5    Ingredient            Wt. %   Wt. %    ______________________________________    Propylene glycol      86.00   85.65    Al/Zr tetrachlorohydrate-gly                          11.00*  11.00*    Dibenzylidene sorbitol                          0.50    0.95    Hydroxypropyl cellulose                          0.30    0.20    Na.sub.4 EDTA         0.20    0.20    Glycereth-7-diisononanoate                          0.50    0.50    Dimethicone copolyol (ABIL B 8851)                          0.25    0.25    Fragrance             1.25    1.25    ______________________________________     *Weight % of salt in final composition. Salt is added in solubilized form     as prepared in Example 1.

Examples 4 and 5 are prepared by procedures analogous to the procedureused to prepare Examples 2 and 3.

    ______________________________________                          Ex. 6   Ex. 7    Ingredient            Wt. %   Wt. %    ______________________________________    Propylene glycol      85.00   84.80    Al/Zr tetrachlorohydrate-gly                          11.00*  11.00*    Dibenzylidene sorbitol                          1.20    1.50    Hydroxypropyl cellulose                          0.30    --    Na.sub.4 EDTA         --      0.20    Diisopropyl sebacate  1.00    1.00    Dimethicone copolyol (ABIL B 8851)                          0.25    0.25    Fragrance             1.25    1.25    ______________________________________     *Weight % of salt in final composition. Salt is added in solubilized form     as prepared in Example 1.

* Weight % of salt in final composition. Salt is added in solubilizedform as prepared in Example 1.

Examples 6 and 7 are prepared by a procedure analogous to the procedureused to prepare Examples 2 and 3.

    ______________________________________    Ingredient          Wt. %    ______________________________________    Propylene glycol    84.85    Al/Zr tetrachlorohydrate-gly                        11.00*    Dibenzylidene sorbitol                        1.10    Hydroxypropyl cellulose                        0.35    Na.sub.4 EDTA       0.20    Diisopropyl sebacate                        1.00    Dimethicone copolyol                        0.25    Fragrance           1.25    ______________________________________     *Weight % of salt in final composition. Salt is added in solubilized form     as prepared in Example 1.

*Weight % of salt in final composition. Salt is added in solubilizedform as prepared in Example 1.

Example 8 is prepared by a procedure analogous to the procedure used toprepare Examples 2 and 3.

    ______________________________________    Ingredient          Wt. %    ______________________________________    Propylene glycol    92.75    Al/Zr tetrachlorohydrate-gly                        3.00*    Dibenzylidene sorbitol                        1.30    Hydroxypropyl cellulose                        0.50    Na.sub.4 EDTA       0.20    Oleth-10            0.75    PPG-10 butanediol   0.75    PPG-3 myristyl ether                        0.75    ______________________________________     *Weight % of salt in final composition. Salt is added in solubilized form     as prepared in Example 1.

Example 9 is prepared by a procedure analogous to the procedure used toprepare Examples 2 and 3.

We claim:
 1. A clear gel cosmetic stick comprising a liquid vehicle, anantiperspirant salt dissolved in said liquid vehicle, a dibenzylidenealditol, and a co-gellant, wherein the amount of said dibenzylidenealditol comprises 0.5% to 2% by weight.
 2. The cosmetic stick accordingto claim 1 wherein said co-gellant comprises a hydroxyalkyl cellulose.3. The cosmetic stick according to claim 2 wherein said hydroxyalkylcellulose comprises hydroxypropyl cellulose.
 4. The cosmetic stickaccording to claim 1 additionally comprising a chelating agent.
 5. Thecosmetic stick according to claim 1 wherein said liquid vehiclecomprises a polyhydric alcohol having from 3 to 6 carbon atoms and from2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.
 6. The cosmetic stick according to claim 2wherein said liquid vehicle comprises a polyhydric alcohol having from 3to 6 carbon atoms and from 2 to 6 hydroxyl groups.
 7. The cosmetic stickaccording to claim 6 wherein said antiperspirant salt comprises aluminumchlorohydrate, enhanced efficacy aluminum chlorohydrate,aluminum-zirconium chlorohydrate or enhanced efficacy aluminum-zirconiumchlorohydrate.
 8. The cosmetic stick according to claim 7 comprising, inpercent by weight, 70% to 95% of said liquid vehicle, 1% to 22% of saidantiperspirant salt, 0.5% to 2% of said dibenzylidene alditol, and 0.1%to 0.5% of said hydroxyalkyl cellulose.
 9. The cosmetic stick accordingto claim 8 wherein said dibenzylidene alditol comprises dibenzylidenesorbitol.
 10. The cosmetic stick according to claim 9 wherein saidliquid vehicle comprises propylene glycol.
 11. The cosmetic stickaccording to claim 10 wherein said hydroxyalkyl cellulose compriseshydroxypropyl cellulose.
 12. The cosmetic stick according to claim 1wherein said stick has a turbidity of less than 120 NTU.
 13. Thecosmetic stick according to claim 12 wherein said liquid vehicle issubstantially free of monohydric alcohol.
 14. The cosmetic stickaccording to claim 12 wherein said liquid vehicle is substantially freeof sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.
 15. The cosmetic stickaccording to claim 12 additionally comprising a chelating agent.
 16. Thecosmetic stick according to claim 12 additionally comprising less than3% of one or more emollients.
 17. The cosmetic stick according to claim12 which has a hardness of 60 to 150.